The Fearless Defenders #8 Review

Last month's issue of The Fearless Defenders was a departure from the series' otherwise breakneck pacing, and it was a welcome reprieve. Every now and then, a writer needs to give his readers (and his characters) a chance to get their bearings. The slowdown, however, didn't last long. Cullen Bunn is back at his old tricks with The Fearless Defenders #8, and some of them are far more successful than others.

If there's one thing Bunn consistently hits out of the park, it's the series' tone. The Fearless Defenders is a funny title, no doubt about it. That being said, well-placed jokes can only patch over so much. In the wake of last month's massive development regarding Valkyrie and the not-as-dead-as-you-thought Dr. Annabelle Riggs, one would have expected there to be at least a little psychological fallout. But instead of giving his core trio of characters the chance to deal with the ramifications of Annabelle and Valkyrie sharing a body, Bunn tosses the headlong into another adventure.

The issue sees Will Sliney back on art duties. In the wake of Stephanie Hans' delicate visuals, issue #8's visuals feel rather crass by comparison. We're treated to the same aesthetic of broken spines and overly exaggerated lady bits that we've seen before, and it still doesn't quite jive with Bunn's writing.

The title's overabundance of characters can sometimes feel like an embarrassment of riches, but this time, it feels more like an obstacle to coherence. Bunn does an impressive job juggling so many faces, old and new, but the story might be better served by slimming down the cast to more manageable proportions. Simply put, it's hard to invest in characters when keeping track of them requires a spreadsheet.

Melissa Grey is a lover of all things cats, comics, and outer space. She can be found on MyIGN at MelissaGrey or lurking on Twitter @meligrey.

Source : ign[dot]com